A new decade can bring with it many changes as people take stock, revaluate, and re-focus. We have not been left out of this phenomenon, and as we move into the summer of 2010, after long and deliberative thinking and discussions, we have decided to end Liberadio(!) with Mary Mancini and Freddie O’Connell.

As of Monday, June 7, Mary will be the new Executive Director of Tennessee Citizen Action, a public interest advocacy organization, and Freddie’s new inbound marketing agency, SearchViz, is growing at the same time as some of his other civic interests and responsibilities. We both feel that now is the time to focus all our energy and productivity towards these endeavors.

Before we go, however, we have a few final words. Most of which are “thank you!”

For the last 6 years you, our faithful listeners, have turned your dial to WRVU-FM on Monday mornings or pointed your browser to liberadio.com to allow us do our best to entertain and inform you. You’ve listened, called in, shared your thoughts and ideas, and heeded many calls to action. You are the embodiment of a deliberative and participatory democracy and for that, we can’t thank you enough.

We’d also like to wholeheartedly thank each one of our many talented, knowledgeable, and dedicated guests who took the time to share their expertise and passions with us. It’s not easy getting up at the crack of dawn and yet week after week our guests (especially the ones in time zones West of us) did just that. You are the spark that lights the fire beneath a participatory democracy, and for this we thank you.

A special guest acknowledgement goes out to Liberadio(!) team members, Elbert Ventura and Karl Frisch, purveyors of our weekly Media Matters for America Smackdown. Thank you for bringing your on-point media criticism—and the funny!—to the show week after week.

Behind the scenes, we also had tons of help. First and foremost, thank you to Teddy Bart and Karlen Evins, who reawakened Mary’s love for radio and taught us, by example, that words really do matter. And to Jim Ridley, an early and tireless Liberadio(!) cheerleader and Mary’s own personal guardian angel.

And because a show like ours can’t produce itself, big ups to Andy Finley, who shared his audio recording, editing, and podcasting expertise with us in the early days to make our recordings sound really, really good. Also, we’ve had two interns who became full-fledged producers over the years, and both were rock stars. A big “thank you” to Krystal Long and Nat Howry, who volunteered their time and skills to help us produce the show and the podcast each week. Again with the getting up early on cold, wintry mornings. Not easy but you guys were good at it and ever-hopeful that your humble hosts would actually make it to the studio with the equipment before you did!

To all our advertisers, but especially Barbara Moutenot with Village Real Estate, Bill Fletcher and FRR Media, Darek Bell, Pam Kidd & Keri Kidd Cannon, and the Bongo Java Roasting Company. You chipped in when the chips were down, and we thank you!

And though we give a nod to WRFN (Radio Free Nashville), WAMB-AM, and WNSG-AM, other stations that provided us a temporary home through the years, we have to say a huge thank you to our permanent residence: WRVU-FM. We met so many great radio neighbors—like occasional guest hosts Ashley Crownover and Lonnie Atkinson (who became much more than a fan and neighbor), Father Parthenios, and Angela Lin (may she rest in peace). We’d also like to thank the Vanderbilt Student Communications staff (especially Jim Hayes and Chris Carroll) and Board of Directors (especially Bruce Barry, Vanessa Beasley, and Kevin Leander), as well as all the members of the WRVU senior staff we’ve seen come and go through the years, all of whom have been have been more than accommodating to Liberadio(!). And a special shout out to Carl Pedersen of WPLN and long-time WRVU DJ John Brassil, neither of whom ever said “no” to one or another of our special requests for guidance or help. Thank you!

Also, to Sitemason, Nashville’s premier content management system and shared web hosting company (and our friends), who graciously provided us with gratis website and podcast hosting for 6 years without fail and without complaint, thank you!

Finally, to our dear family and friends, you can now all stop fighting over who is our “biggest fan.” With all the support and encouragement you have given us since we started the show, you absolutely must share the title. And for that, we thank you.

Once more with feeling, THANK YOU all so much!

And who knows. We might find that after a long summer on beaches all around the world (Wait. What? – Ed.) that we just can’t tear ourselves away from the microphones forever…

Our love, and till some sunny day,

Mary Mancini and Freddie O’Connell

We are Nashville

The 211

If you know or hear of a family or a community not getting the resources they need to help them get back on their feet after the flood call 2-1-1 or visit www.211tn.org.

The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management’s 211 division connects flood victims to the services they need. Whether it is food, shelter, counseling, or other social service needs, 211 is specifically designed to connect people with more than 2,800 health and human services agencies. All 211 calls are answered by nationally certified information and referral specialists who are fluent in several different languages. The caller is provided with phone numbers, programs and services, location, hours of operation and other information relevant to what the caller needs.

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

* The Village Chapel recovery and rebuild effort needs volunteers. Unfortunately, the last couple of days have been slim as far as volunteers and they really need help to complete the remediation work in the Bordeaux community. Meet at 3199 LaGrange Dr, Nashville 37218 at 9 am to help with final stages of demolition work (drywall, flooring, insulation) and spraying (sprayers, bleach, and mold solution supplied by TVC).
* Visit Hands on Nashville website, www.hon.org, for up to the minute volunteer opportunities.
* Nashville residents should continue to conserve water. Just because it’s the right thing to do. OK, go ahead and water your lawn now, but you know what I mean.
*Department of Human Services Emergency Assistance for Tennessee flood victims now available. Click here for application [pdf].
* The East Nashville Flood Relief Center is up and running for donations this week at 407 Gallatin Road. Hours are 9am-6pm. Donations accepted include furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, small household goods, clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys and books. Please be sure all donations are in good working order and clean. Food donations will be left to other organizations.

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

* Run for Nashville – On Saturday, June 5 in the Annandale neighborhood in Brentwood, there will be a 5K fun-run to raise funds for flood relief. Fifty percent of the registration fee will go to Hands On Nashville. For more information, visit www.thehomerun5k.com. (Source: Tennessean)

Volunteer / Special Relief Events

* Nashville Paw has set up the Nashville Paw Flood Relief Donation Drive in order to help the many people and pets displaced by the Nashville Floods. As of May 28, they have delivered more than 10 truckloads of pet supplies to flood relief shelters and distribution centers, as well as many carloads of supplies to nearly 50 individual families in need. If your family and pets have been displaced by the floods and you are in need of pet supplies and food, please complete the Request For Donations Form at http://publishers-paw.nashvillepaw.com and we will be in touch as soon as possible in order to deliver a care package to you. Or, simply call Nashville Paw at (615) 474-5710 to request help.
* Support Nashville is attempting to put together a compilation album, the proceeds of which will go toward flood relief. Local bands who would like to be featured can apply at the site. (Source: WOTT and the Nashville Scene’s Nashville Cream Blog)
* Flood relief benefit auction – At 3 p.m. Friday, June 11, the Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction will take place at Ryman Auditorium. Stars contributing decorated guitars include Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Danny Gokey, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and more. Chris Young will start the event with a performance. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Opry Trust Fund and be earmarked for flood relief. (Source: Tennessean)
* The folks in Dyer Co. now have t-shirts of their own. All proceeds go to the Dyer County American Red Cross Disaster Fund. Also, We Are Nashville t-shirts are still available. (H/T: Speak to Power)

Disaster Information Centers and Assistance

METRO NASHVILLE – Disaster Information Centers are no longer operational. On Monday, May 17, assistance provided at the Disaster Information Centers will transfer to FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (see above details) and a network of non-profit distribution centers (see locations below).

FEMA – Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) operated by the state of Tennessee and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are open for those affected by severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. The centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week until further notice. Disaster officials ask that before visiting the centers, people first register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing disabilities. Help in all languages is available. The DRCs are located at the following locations:

Middle Tennessee

West Tennessee

FEMA MOBILE (MIDDLE TN) – Four FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) will visit four counties designated for federal assistance in Middle Tennessee beginning Monday, May 17, for a two-and-half day stay, to provide assistance to people affected by the severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. MDRC hours of operation are Monday, May 17, from noon to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at the following locations:

FEMA MOBILE (WEST TN) – Four FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC) will visit two counties designated for federal assistance in West Tennessee beginning Monday, May 17, for a two-and-half day stay, to provide assistance to people affected by the severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. MDRC hours of operation are Monday, May 17, from noon to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at the following locations::

NON-PROFIT AND FAITH-BASED DISTRIBUTION CENTERS The network of non-profit and faith-based distribution centers will allow citizens to access resources closer to their homes through congregations and agencies already well established in neighborhoods. This effort is coordinated through the Middle TN VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), a network of more than 50 faith and non-profit organizations that will partner with the city in coordinating human services such as case management, mental health, housing transition, and food, water, personal hygiene supplies access as families and neighborhoods move more deeply into the recovery.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION RECOVERY CENTER – An SBA Business Recovery Center is open now at Tennessee State University Avon Williams Campus (Downtown), 330 10th Avenue North, Room 200, Nashville, TN 37203. Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.. Click here to download the SBA fact sheet in english and spanish. As the nation’s leading provider of post-disaster assistance for non-farm, private sector disaster losses, the SBA plays an important role in helping homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes get back on their feet.
Those eligible for assistance include:

• Homeowners, who may borrow up to $200,000 to repair real estate;
• Renters and homeowners, who may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property;
• Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits, who may borrow up to $2 million for physical losses;
• Small businesses, who may borrow up to $2 million for economic losses.

Volunteer & Donate

* SOUTHEAST NASHVILLE: The Southeast Nashville Flood Relief partnership organized by Rev. Jay Voorhees of the Antioch United Methodist Church, is coordinating to help persons with documentation issues who have lost everything in the floods and are unable to participate in FEMA assistance. Donations are tax-deductible and 100% will be directed toward relief and rebuilding efforts. Visit their website at www.senashvillefloodhelp.com.
* BENEFIT ITEMS A comprehensive collection of Nashville flood posters, t-shirts, and bumper stickers available here.
* NASHVILLE: Hands On Nashville volunteer sign-up (on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management) or call 615.862.8583 (contact person Brian Williams).
* NASHVILLE CASH DONATIONS The most urgent need continues to be cash donations which can be made to the Metro Disaster Fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
* NASHVILLE MATERIAL DONATIONS Requests include large quantities of the following: diapers, formula, cleaning supplies and rubber gloves, wet vacs, brooms, mops, and generators. If citizens have large quantities, they should contact the Community Foundation.
* NASHVILLE NON-BULK & SMALL ITEMS Non-bulk or small quantities of the needed items should go to the Community Resource Center (CRC) at 911 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203. The email contact for this location is betsycrc@comcast.net.
* Effective immediately, individuals needing Red Cross Assistance can call toll-free 1-866- GET- INFO (1-866-438-4636).
* EAST NASHVILLE LARGE ITEMS: Large item donations in East Nashville can be brought to 407 Gallatin Road, next to Sherwin Williams and across from Firestone, near East Literature School. This location will be open for receipt of donations of furniture, lamps, lighting, larger household items, appliances, AC/heating equipment, duct work, etc. PLEASE NOTE that donations of clothing, other personal items, and smaller house-wares will continue to be accepted at the East Park Community Center, 700 Woodland St.
* ONLINE FUNDRAISING: In an effort to raise more than $100,000, Nashville and Franklin-based accessories store Whats-in-Store has added an online-only selection of jewelry where 100% of sales will be donated to flood relief. New items are being added daily. (H/T: Stella Shops)

Clean-up, Health, and Water Conservation

* The Salvation Army is providing Emergency Assistance and Relief (clean-up kits, personal hygiene kits, food boxes, bottled water, paper goods, toiletries, diapers, and emotional and spiritual care to those in need) at the following six locations: Magness-Potter Community Center, 611 Stockell Street, Nashville 37207 Hours: 9-5 p.m. Phone: 255-0554 (also provides monetary financial assistance), Madison Citadel Corps, 425 Neelys Bend Rd, Madison 37115 Hours: M-F 9-4; Sat. 9-1pm, Murfreesboro Corps, 1137 West Main St, Murfreesboro Hours: 8 – 6 p.m., Hispanic Corps, Serving East Nashville and Antioch Area 37209 (roving), Laotian Corps, Serving Antioch Area (roving).
* Flood Repair Guidelines: A building permit is required prior to making repairs to flood damaged homes and buildings. Click here for pdf of guidelines including who can pull a permit, guidelines for addressing mold, guidelines for repair of electrical systems and water heaters exposed to flood water, guidelines for re-starting water damages heating and cooling equipment, etc. Department of Codes and Building Safety is located at 800 2nd Avenue, South Nashville, TN 37210 or call 615 862-6500. Website: www.nashville.gov/flood/guidelines.asp
* Owners of flood-damaged single family residential properties may be able to receive their flood repair permits online, with no visit to the Codes department required. Property Owners who presently occupy or intend to occupy the residence and want to do the repair work themselves may use Metro Nashville’s on-line permitting system. This system can be used from any computer which has access to the internet. Click here for more details.
* Cumberland River Compact Short-Term Water Saving Tips for Nashville (Quick, cheap and easy choices you can do now).
* Metro Nashville Public Works info and debris collection guidelines [pdf]. All remaining flood debris should be set out on the street by Tuesday, June 1. Residents who have questions can call 311 or Public Works Customer Service at (615) 880-1000. (H/T: Newschannel 5)
* FEMA / Red Cross guide on “Repairing Your Flooded Home.” [pdf]
* Piedmont Natural Gas If your home or business has been flooded and you have concerns about your natural gas service or natural gas appliances in use call 1-800-752-7504. If your natural gas appliance has been damaged or submerged by flood waters it must be replaced. Before any digging or excavating, customers should call 811 to have their natural gas (and other utilities) lines located.

* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for re-entering a flooded home.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for skin and wound contact with flooded water.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for protecting yourself from mold.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for keeping food safe.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for protecting yourself from mosquitores.
* Metro Public Health Department guidelines for determining if you need a tetanus shot.
* Metro Public Health Department – info about applying for disaster assistance.
* Metro Public Health Department – info about water conservation.
* Guidelines for water conservation: use water for drinking and food preparation only until further notice – please turn off all automatic sprinkler systems.
* Creating a healthy home: A Field Guide for Clean-up of Flooded Homes [pdf]
* Mental Health Hotline: 615-244-7444
* Cleaning up Heirlooms. The Tennessee State Museum offers info on how to clean up heirlooms damaged in the flood.

Food and Shelter

* Second Harvest Food Bank are providing emergency food boxes for families, Locations are (1) Martha O’Bryan Center, 711 South 7th Street (2) Napier Community Center, 73 Fairfield Ave (3) Hamilton United Methodist Church, 3105 Hamilton Church Rd (4) Goodlettsville Help Center, 108 Depot St (5) Una Church of Christ, 1917 Murfreesboro Road (6) St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 85 Fairway Dr (7) Salvation Army Magness Potter Ctr., 611 Stockell St, and (8) St. Luke’s Community House, 5601 New York Ave
* Effective immediately, individuals needing Red Cross Assistance must call toll-free 1-866- GET- INFO (1-866-438-4636). Currently there are three Red Cross shelters open: Lipscomb University with 85 residents and capacity for 200; Gordon Jewish Community Center with 12 residents and capacity for 200; and the Al Menah Shrine center with 32 residents and capacity for 300. Red Cross is also providing “clean up kits” at the five Disaster Information Centers in Davidson County. Clean up kits contain the following items: bleach, buckets, storage containers, coolers, work gloves, hand sanitizer, hoses with nozzle, insect repellent, dust masks, rakes, rope, shovel, sun screen, duct tape, and trash bags.
* The Salvation Army is providing meals, beverages and snacks at these locations: Bellvue Community (Roaming Feeding Canteen), Madison Neely’s Bend Area, Richard Mobile Home Park, Antioch, Morrow/Illinois Avenues, Ashland City (Roaming Feeding Canteen(, Kingston Springs (Roaming Feeding Canteen), and Pegram (Roaming Feeding Canteen).
* Flood assistance. Those in need of shelter or assistance can reach the Red Cross at (615) 250-4300. For non-emergencies, call (615) 862-8574.

FEMA Information

FEMA will be capping all Home Repair Grants at $29,900 per home to repair it to a safe and sanitary condition. If insurance covers any of the repairs this will reduce the amount of the grant. For instance, if insurance covers $10,000, then FEMA will only grant $19,900.

Remember that low interest loans are available for additional repairs up to $200,000 (depending on individual case, value of home, etc.)

Also, write down everything you do! How much time you spend, who helps you and how much time they spend, anything you spend on repairs, and especially any time to you talk to someone from FEMA and get advice. Write down who it was and what they said.

The FEMA website also has tips on getting rid of mold, trying to salvage pictures, etc. (www.fema.gov)

* Mark the water level in the effected home. clearly document with photos, markings on walls, etc.
* You can throw out big items (furniture, computers, rugs, etc.,) but document, document, document them first.
* Keep receipts, take a photo of the item where it sits in the home AND a photo of it once its on the street or loaded in a truck/etc.
* For carpets, cut a swatch of the carpet and keep it to show FEMA/insurance company the quality level of the carpet you had.

(H/T: Councilman Erik Cole)

Other Information

* REBUILDING: Guidelines for permits associated with the repair of flood-damaged homes and buildings can be downloaded here [pdf].
Legal Services – Flood victims facing legal issues may call the Tennessee statewide Disaster Legal Services Hotline at 1-888-395-9297 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. central time Monday through Friday to request assistance. (FEMA, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, and the Tennessee Bar Association). Messages can be left at any time. Callers should identify that they are seeking flood-related legal assistance. Victims who qualify for assistance will be matched with Tennessee lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help. Turnaround time to connect with an attorney is about 24 hours.
* Legal Services – Free legal service for flood victims is available at the Metro Nashville disaster service centers, as well as several legal clinics, Monday through Friday through a joint program of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the Nashville Bar Association and the Nashville Pro Bono Program. Issues that generally arise after a natural disaster, and for which an attorney can provide help, include: Securing government benefits available to disaster victims, Filing life, medical and property insurance claims, Dealing with home repair contracts and contractors, Replacing missing or destroyed wills and other legal documents, Dealing with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures, Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems, Counseling on landlord/tenant problems
* Twitter. Sometimes information hits Twitter before it has the chance to hit the news. For volunteer and flood-related tweets, we’re using the hashtag #NashvilleFlood. If you don’t already, you can follow Nashvillest @nashvillest. They are working hard to keep you current.
HT: A huge thank you to Christy Frink & Morgan Levy at Nashvillest.
* Tennessean Special Report: Nashville Flood and online resource guide.
* Contractor Verification – The Department of Commerce and Insurance is encouraging homeowners to verify the licensure of contractors they hire to repair their homes by using verify.tn.gov.
* Wiki – A Tennessee Floods of Spring 2010 “Crisis Wiki” has been created.

Summary: Featuring guests Juvenile Court Clerk candidates Jeff Brousal, Howard Jones, Vic Lineweaver, Karen Johnson, and David Smith; Plus, the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Karl Frisch.

Listen to the entire show in two parts or scroll down to listen to each of the separate Juvenile Court Clerk interviews.

It’s the Circle of Clerks, Part 1 We start the show off with some flood relief info and welcome and the Media Matters for America Smackdown with Karl Frisch. Then, it’s the first two of what supposed to be 6 but turned out to be 5 (Vivian Wilhoite got her a.m.’s and p.m.’s mixed up) interviews with Democratic primary candidates for Juvenile Court Clerk. First up this hour is Jeff Brousal followed closely by Howard Jones. [25.47MB Click on the arrow below to listen or download mp3]Download audio file (liberadio20100517part1.mp3)

It’s the Circle of Clerks, Part 2 In this hour we talk to three more of the Democratic candidates for Juvenile Court Clerk – Vic Lineweaver (the incumbent), Karen Johnson, and David Smith. Because it seemed like too bold an assertion to make on the eve of an election, we contacted Councilwoman Megan Barry for confirmation of the statement made by candidate Karen Johnson that she “recruited” Ms. Johnson to run for Juvenile Court Clerk. Councilwoman Barry said she often advises those who reach out to her to get involved in the democratic process. However, Ms. Barry stressed to us that she did not recruit Ms. Johnson to run for the office of juvenile court clerk. Election day is tomorrow, May 18. Go to Nashville.gov/vote for information about polling changes due to the flood disaster as well as to view a sample ballot.[19.82MB Click on the arrow below to listen or download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20100412part2.mp3)

Jeff Brousal
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Howard Jones
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Download audio file (liberadio20100517jones.mp3)

Vic Lineweaver
[Click on the arrow below to listen or download mp3]
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Karen Johnson
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David Smith
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Summary: Featuring Federal Public Defender Kelley Henry, Center for American Progress Policy Analyst Ian Millhiser, and Karl Frisch and the Media Matters for America Smackdown.

A Conversation with Justin Bieber, Part 1 We apologize, but by the time our show aired, Justin Bieber had to cancel. We’re sad but we forge ahead with the Liberadio(!) “To Do” list, Freddie as a bicycle valet, the Davidson County Democratic Party straw poll debrief, and a rundown of the news. Plus, Federal Public Defender Kelley Henry joins us live to tell us the story of her client Gaile Owens, one of two women on Tennessee’s death row, and Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper issues an opinion[pdf] on the constitutionality of yet another vanity license plates. Beep, beep, who got the keys to the…ZOMG! Jesus is Lord! [25.4MB Click on the arrow below to listen or download mp3]Download audio file (liberadio20100419part1.mp3)

A Conversation with Justin Bieber, Part 2 In the second hour we tell you all the fun facts that weren’t reported about self-described “Tea Partiers,” and we speak to Ian Millhiser, Policy Analyst for Center for American Progress about the upcoming Supreme Court nomination – what it means to a court primarily made up of conservatives “nuts” and what the confirmation process will look like. Then, it’s once again time for Karl Frisch(!) and the Media Matters for America Smackdown – this week Karl takes Maureen Dowd and the Sunday morning talk shows to the mat – and a quick but important word about a bill that would outlaw some forms of birth control in Tennessee (which has passed in both the House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor to be signed). [23.4MB Click on the arrow below to listen or download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20100419part2.mp3)

You will no doubt be surprised at his answer.

Download audio file (thomas-christian-nation.mp3)
(0:02:26)

By the way, membership to Nashville-AU is only $25 per year. Join today!

Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors from across the country, representing more than 38 million Americans in 80 cities, dedicated to engaging more Americans in service and channeling volunteers toward each city’s most pressing challenges.

Each of the winners displayed a strong commitment to service and outlined thoughtful, thorough, and creative approaches to expanding local opportunities for volunteers to make an impact in their city. Of the ten grant recipients, five are founding members of the Cities of Service coalition, including Nashville.

“I first learned of this funding opportunity when I joined Mayor Bloomberg in New York in September for the formation of Cities of Service. These are tight times for city budgets. This grant will allow us to have dedicated staff for developing service opportunities, something we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. I look forward to engaging our citizens to in our cities greatest needs and priorities, especially education,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said.

Have questions about Cities of Service – or maybe there’s something else on your mind? Mayor Dean will be available today at 1 p.m. at the art service project at the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Summary: Featuring guests Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House and Thistle Farms; J.C. Smith, Outreach and Alumni Program Coordinator for Operation Stand Down Nashville, Elbert Ventura, Managing Editor for the Progressive Policy Institute, and Karl Frisch of Media Matters for America.

Links: Thistle Farms, Operation Stand Down Nashville, Progressive Policy Institute, and Media Matters for America

Faces of Love, Part 1 A quick run down of the news of the week and then we feature representatives from the two organizations we are adopting this holiday season. Listen to our interviews with Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House and Thistle Farms, and J.C. Smith, Outreach and Alumni Program Coordinator for Operation Stand Down Nashville. [20.3MB download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20091123part1.mp3)

Faces of Love, Part 2 A quick run down of the Senate health care debate. Plus, Elbert Ventura is back! And he’s packing a new website for pragmatic progressives. And Elbert’s replacement, Karl Frisch of Media Matters, issues the smack down on this week’s conservative obstructionist redonkulousness. (He is a very busy man.) And just whose interests are Republican legislators looking out for as they stand in the way of meaningful health insurance reform? [21.3MB download mp3]
Download audio file (liberadio20091123part2.mp3)

Without your well-placed tax dollars, the Tea Parties would have to rescue their own kittehs.

Proving that all hypocrisy is local, the Tennessee Tea Party is organizing a rally this Friday to protest “big government” at the Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium – a venue funded and maintained by the taxpayers of Davidson County.

You can view the history of Municipal Aud and see just how much “big government” has put into the building to make it safe, comfortable, and affordable so organizations like the TN Tea Party can protest its intrusion into our lives. For example, in 1978 the Metro Council designated $200,000 to paint the interior and update seat upholstery. In 1993 they allocated $1.159 million in repairs and renovations for the auditorium. And in 2001, a brand new one-million dollar sprinkler and fire alarm system was installed.

In other words, Tennessee Tea Partiers, it’s not about “big government,” it’s about smart government. And without a smart government believing that it’s a good idea to spend taxpayer dollars to keep conventioneers from being burned to a crisp, the Tea Partiers wouldn’t have a safe place to peaceably assemble.

We won’t hold our breath waiting for a “thank you.”

UPDATE: Mark NoChaser expounds: “While we’re at it, Mary, let’s not forget that the Teabaggers will drive to the auditorium on taxpayer-funded roads. While they’re at the event, their cars will be protected by taxpayer-funded police officers. They will scurry home Friday night and bang out blog posts claiming the Municipal Auditorium was filled by 3 MILLION protesters. Of course, their lights and their computers will be run on taxpayer-subsidized electricity.”

Last Saturday, a public meeting was called to discuss what everyone except the Mayor’s office believed to be a done deal – the redevelopment of Nashville’s waterfront. 48-hours before the meeting, Councilman Mike Jameson (The Fightin’ 6th!) received what MDHA and the Mayor’s office called “Plan B” for riverfront development. The new plan included everything in Phase 1 of the original plan except for the adventure park. Construction was to start on the east bank, as was originally scheduled, before shovels broke any ground on the downtown side.

But the “Plan B” presented at last Saturday’s meeting wasn’t the original “Plan B.” The original “Plan B” was given to Councilman Jameson by Ed Owens, MDHA’s riverfront development director, and Phil Ryan, MDHA’s Executive Director, on January 30 at a Nashville coffee house. This new plan did away with everything in Phase 1 that was most important to the East Nashville community – including the adventure park and the urban forest – and instead included every project for the downtown side. In other words, the downtown side of the re-development became the priority in Phase 1, with ground breaking there first. What remained in the plan for the east side were two lesser projects – call them callous afterthoughts or insufficient appeasement.

During the Jameson, Owens, Ryan coffee klatch, the Councilman was asked to keep the original “Plan B” to himself. His push back was palpable – an open process is an open process with time for review of any and all new plans in addition to appropriately scheduled public meetings.

More than one month and one false start later (the original public meeting was to be held on 2/19 at 5:30 PM at the Civic Design Center downtown), MDHA called the public meeting that was held last Saturday. Missing from the meeting? The original “Plan B,” which had been replaced a mere 48-hours earlier with “Plan C Disguised as Plan B.”

So it’s no big whoop, right? “Plan C Disguised as Plan B” simply moves adventure park and urban forest to the end of the list. But is is a big whoop, according to Councilman Mike Jameson, who was quoted on the Protect the Riverfront Plan blog:

Just 48 hours before the meeting, I received a new plan (the third version received in just 4 weeks) from MDHA. In a nutshell, in order to convince us NOT to ask for the Adventure Park & Pilot Urban Forest anymore, MDHA was now offering to construct every OTHER project on the East bank, and to do so first. (Those other projects are a Cove, an overlook with lawn, an esplanade, and improvements to the Woodland bridge). In the second year, MDHA would construct downtown-side projects. And then in the third year, curiously, MDHA claimed they would proceed with the Adventure Park & Pilot Urban Forest.

Protect the Riverfront Plan has more detail on the “blazing problems “and non-vialibity of the sequence of “Plan C Disguised as Plan B”:

1. The New Plan (let’s call it, “The Bright Shiny Plan” or BS Plan for short) promises to build all the East Bank projects except the Adventure Park and Pilot Urban Forest first. “See?” MDHA seems to be saying, “We’re building on the east side!” But NONE of those projects can be built, at least not the way they’re designed, WITHOUT the Adventure Park and Urban Forest. For example, the cove and esplanade must follow construction of the urban forest because the irrigation drip, water run-off, and foliage have to be coordinated. So, unless you’re not planning to ever do the Adventure Park, you better do it first or you’re going to have to undo all those other projects when you build it.

2. The BS Plan promises to build the Adventure Park in Year 3. “See?” MDHA seems to be saying, “It’s no big deal. You’ll get the Adventure Park. Just three years from now.” But NONE of the other projects that they’ve proposed to build first can be done without approval and permitting from the Corps of Engineers. The other folks who spoke on Saturday discussed four year long waits for those permits. Remember, the design firm prioritized the Adventure Park in part because we could build it while Metro was getting the permits for the other projects. And, when they are building over there [on the downtown side]…we’ll lose a public venue for exactly those downtown activities unless we already have the alternate staging area of the Adventure Park. In other words, have your downtown events at Riverfront while you build the Adventure Park. Have your downtown events at the Adventure Park while you rebuild Riverfront Park. OR, as MHDA recommends, have no events at all while you’re rebuilding Riverfront Park. Again, unless you’re not planning to ever do the Adventure Park, it makes no sense to delay the entire development and decrease the usability of downtown by not doing it first.

3. The BS Plan counters the recommendations of the Green Ribbon Committee and flies in the face of the Mayor’s repeated goal of making Nashville the “greenest city” in the South. There is one site – ONLY ONE – that would restore green space to land that is currently contaminated brown field. If we’re serious about addressing the contaminated areas of the riverfront (as the urgency of our storm-water plan and repeated pressers from the Mayor’s office suggest that we are), we need to address the brownfield.

4. Oh, wait, it’s about the money, right? Apparently not. The cost for the Adventure Park is comparable to the cost MDHA is perfectly happy to spend on other parts of the development. If it’s really about the economy, shouldn’t we start with the feature most likely to bring money downtown? Guess what? That’s one more reason the design firm prioritized the Adventure Park. It brings new visitors (with new money) into town. It gives tourists something to do with their families downtown. It gives (ahem) conventioneers someplace for their children to hang out while they’re at conventions. You start with the project that’s going to bring people to the development. You don’t put it on the backburner, unless you don’t intend to build it at all.

And speaking of money, although MDHA can promise all day long that they’re going to eventually install the features of the original plan, there is no money guaranteed after year two. Which means putting a project into Year Three is the same as putting it on the shelf for.ev.er….The only way this sequence makes sense is if the Mayor doesn’t intend to ever put in the Adventure Park. And given that he’s referring to the sequence designed over 16 months with the input of a thousand Nashvillians and a half-million of our tax dollars as “a kiddie park,” that’s exactly what his intent seems to be.

So, it’s not the economy. It’s not the environment. It’s not the tourism industry. It’s not the funding. It’s not the public will. What is driving this alternative plan?

Good questions all. And here’s another – where are the consultants?

Consultants are paid a lot of money – in the case of this riverfront redevelopment plan, upwards of $450,000 – to come up with innovative ideas on improving vastly underutilized and/or contaminated public lands. Hargreaves Associates, the company hired to develop Nashville’s riverfront redevelopment project, was charged with the task of establishing a plan that included a well-thought out sequencing of projects. A project sequence cannot solely be based on what a city might want to build first. Instead, it must take into consideration other specifics like cost and environmental impact. And when changes to a plan are considered, a consultant is usually the first person called to reevaluate the sequence, keeping in mind both the environmental impact and the potential for an increase in expense.

So it is surprising that, according to Councilman Jameson, Hargreaves’ Gavin McMillan, the lead project designer, has still not heard from anyone in the Mayor’s office or MDHA with a request to go back and look at the re-sequenced projects in either “Plan B” or “Plan C Disguised as Plan B,” to re-evaluate both the cost and the environmental impact. Contacting your consultant to reevaluate would seem particularly prudent if you are concerned with a budget and costs spiraling out during the construction process.

Both the “Plan A” and “Plan C Disguised as Plan B” can be found at Nashville.gov.

Also at Nashville.gov is an online Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment Feedback form. Or call MDHA at (615) 252-8400 or the Mayor’s office at (615) 862-6000.